BOOTLE FC will be hoping the weather improves significantly over the festive weekend as they bid to play their first competitive match in more than a calendar month.

Chris O’Brien’s team were last in action on November 23 in the Liverpool Senior Cup against Cammell Laird, a match they lost 2-0.

Since then, postponements have followed postponements as the entire country has experienced the ravages of snow and ice putting paid to both professional and non-professional sporting events.

Should the conditions improve, Bucks’ fans are in for a post-Christmas cracker at the Delta Taxis Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, December 27.

There, local Merseyside rivals Formby are the visitors with the match scheduled to kick-off at 3pm.

Although struggling at the wrong end of the Vodkat League’s Premier Division, Gary Martindale’s team have shown improved form over recent weeks and were unfortunate to lose a thrilling five-goal FA Vase encounter against Tadcaster Albion earlier in the month.

Indeed, the Squirrels have actually played twice since Bootle last kicked a ball so are likely to be less ‘rusty’ should Monday’s match be given the go-ahead.

Formby’s last game was on December 14 when they were edged 2-1 by Prescot Cables in the Liverpool Senior Cup.

For their part, Bootle sit eighth in the table having accrued 31 points from their 18 league matches played to date. They are 16 points adrift of runaway leaders New Mills although they do have one game in hand.

Bootle’s first game when the New Year is welcomed in is set to take place on Monday, January 3.

And it’s another Merseyside derby as the Bucks face a visit to St Helens Town.

Saints’ home matches this season are being staged at Ashton Town FC’s Edge Green Street ground in Ashton-in-Makerfield.

The game is set to kick-off at 3pm.

BOOTLE have officially registered the details of two players over the last seven days – Dwayne Artry and Michael Vernon.